High school softball tournament capsules

No. 1 Elyria vs. No. 4 Midview What: Division I Avon Lake District semifinal When: 4 p.m., May 16 Where: Avon Lake High School, 175 Avon Belden Road, Avon Lake

For the record: This is the game that Midview has been waiting for as it continues to be haunted by the ghost of what could have been last season . ... The Middies gave the 2017 Division I champion Pioneers their toughest showdown until the state final against Lebanon. In a district final — a year ago to the day — Elyria topped Midview, 2-1, in eight innings. Midview went home wondering what if, and Elyria advanced to win the state title . ... This year’s edition should be just as good . ... Elyria is on a 10-game winning streak and wrapped up a share of the Greater Cleveland Conference title. Midview is the winner of six in a row, and also recently wrapped up a share of the Southwestern Conference title . ... Both teams feature a strong pitcher in Midview’s Marcella McMahon and Elyria’s Izzy St. Peter. They both also have a lineup that is dangerous from top to bottom . ... This matchup, along with the other district semifinal of Amherst vs. Olmsted Falls, once again shows that the Division I Avon Lake District is the toughest in Ohio, as both of these teams would make some noise in regional play. A regional finalist has come out of this district for the last 14 years (dating back to when it was the Lakewood District), with the district champion advancing to a state semifinal in 10 of those 14 years . ... This one will come down to the wire, as this district is always a coin flip when it comes to the semifinals and final. Behm’s pick: Elyria No. 2 Amherst vs. No. 3 Olmsted Falls What: Division I Avon Lake District semifinal When: 6 p.m., May 16

Where: Avon Lake High School, 175 Avon Belden Road, Avon Lake

For the record: On one hand, you have Amherst, a team determined to make it back to state after tasting Akron two years ago. On the other, you have Olmsted Falls, a team determined to show it belongs with the big dogs of the district and wanting to prove that a tough slide to end the season does not undo the tremendous start the Bulldogs had. The result? One heck of a district semifinal . ... This matchup, along with the other district semifinal of Elyria vs. Midview, once again shows that the Division I Avon Lake District is the toughest in Ohio, as both of these teams would make some noise in regional play. A regional finalist has come out of this district for the last 14 years (dating back to when it was the Lakewood District), with the district champion advancing to a state semifinal in 10 of those 14 years . ... Amherst has won six in a row and eight of its last 10 heading into the district semifinal. The Comets feature arguably the best pitcher in the district in Madison O’Berg. Coupled with a strong lineup that is effective from top-tobottom, the Comets will be an extremely tough out in the district . ... Olmsted Falls has won three straight after an eight-game skid that saw the Bulldogs fall to 11-11 on the season. Losses are never great, but Olmsted Falls can take some solace in the fact that the defeats were mostly by narrow margins . ... Like Amherst, the Bulldogs have a lineup that is dangerous at all times, and features a strong pitcher in Kayla Kippes. ... In their two meetings this season, each team won on the road, with Olmsted Falls claiming a 4-2 win on April 5 and Amherst winning, 3-0, on April 26 . ... If the first to games are any indication, this one will come right down to the wire. Behm’s pick: Amherst Behm’s record: 21-2